Literary Quest

In this episode, we're joined by Emily Renk Hawthorne, author of the YA fantasy mystery duology Of Mountains and Seas and From the Depths, which was released on June 9th. Emily shares with us about the inspiration for her books, how Chinese mythology is represented through her characters and storytelling, and how exposure to fantasy novels as a child has influenced her writing today. In a worl...

Happy Pride Month! This episode we're discussing The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow! This is a tale of three sisters who must come together to fight against the misogynistic Gideon Hill, who wants to rid the world of witches. They each have their own struggles to overcome, June is young and filled with unchanneled rage, Agnes is isolated and pregnant, while Bella hides her true natu...

This week we're discussing Wings of Life, the first book in the Dragonbound Chronicles, with the author, Meghan Le Fay! In this episode, Meghan shares about the inspiration for her novel and delves into her characters with us. Serae has been a constant challenge to her parents. She is curious and intelligent, which her father typically laments, until the opportunity for her to serve as spy for...

This episode we're discussing Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry. This is the sequel to Shield of Sparrows. Odessa and Evie have been separated from Ransom. They plan to meet up with him in Quentis, but encounter quite a few issues along the way. When they do finally arrive, it is not a warm welcome, they are attacked on multiple occasions and even framed for crimes. It all seems connected...

This week, we're discussing Of Blades and Wings by Eliza Raine. Princess Madivia of the Ice Court never expected to be chosen to attend Featherblade, a training school for future Valkyries, not only because her magic has never been as strong as her Freydis, her sister, but also because a medical condition causes Maddy to pass out unexpectedly. Each fainting episode may mean the end of her life...

This episode we discuss Thief of Night by Holly Black! It is the second and final book in the Charlatan Duology. Charlie Hall agreed to be tethered to her shadow boyfriend Vince and become the Hierophant to save his life. However, Vince no longer remembers her or even being Vince. He now goes by Red, he remembers being the shadow of Remy Carver but has lost about a year's worth of memories. He...

This week we're discussing When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker. Raeve, as assassin for a rebel group in the Fade, merely seeks to complete her missions, do what she can to help those less fortunate than her, and live her life. However, a cloaked male, who Raeve believes to be a bounty hunter, crosses her path and despite her efforts, she cannot shake him...not even from her jail cell. Whe...

This week we discuss the second book of Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde Series - Map of the Otherlands. Emily and Wendell are searching for a way into the otherlands and Wendell's kingdom. They are joined by Emily's niece, Ariadne, and the head of the dyradology department Dr. Ferris Rose. The crew follow clues and make their way to Austria to investigate Danielle De Grey's last know...

This week, we have a special guest! Brigid Kemmerer, author of Warrior, Princess, Assassin, joined us for our discussion of her book! We are so grateful for her time! To dive straight into our discussion with Brigid and skip the character and plot summary, jump ahead to 11:20 in this episode. Princess Jory of Astranza faces the difficult reality of becoming engaged to a king, Maddox Kyronan of Inc...

This episode we discuss These Immortal Truths by Rachelle Raeta! Anna is gifted immortality by the god Khiran. She spends a large part of her immortality caring for others as a healer, midwife, or healthcare worker. Khiran visits her periodically through the centuries and they grow closer. However, Khiran is keeping secrets and as humanity evolves more ways to kill each other, Anna's immortali...

This week we're discussing Mate by Ali Hazelwood. Serena Paris is in trouble. She reveals herself as the first human-werewolf hybrid on national television in an effort to reclaim her life after being kidnapped and involuntarily outed as hybrid. Unfortunately, it puts a target on her back as someone on the council of Vampyres has placed a bounty on her head. With Vampyres coming from all direc...

Join us this week while we discuss Brimstone by Callie Hart! Saeris and Fisher are newly mated but there is little time to enjoy their new matehood. Saeris must learn to balance being half-fae, half-vampire, being an alchemist and the new queen of the vampires. When rot begins to take hold in Yvelia, they know they must act quickly but with King Belikon looking for them, Saeris' brother still...

This week we're discussing Anathema by Keri Lake. Maevyth has always been treated as an outcast by the people of Foxglove Parish. Strange encounters with ghosts and a journey into the Eating Woods leads her to a new realm, one that belonged to her ancestors, and the discovery of her own magic. However, her presence as a mortal puts a target on her back, and into the keep of Zevander Rydainn, w...

This week we discuss The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and other war crimes) by Tiffany Hunt! When Arabella Evenfall is captured by Kazimir Blackrose, the Dark Lord, to be his bride, she decides to make the most of her situation. Determined to master her magic and be free of her father, Arabella and Kazimir quickly grow closer. Kazimir is determined to use an Heirloom to tap into the ley-lines...

Happy Halloween! To celebrate, we're discussing Jack's Head by Siggy Shade. Bess had the life of her dreams: great career, great fiance, bright future. However, it all comes crashing down when her fiance William makes an indecent proposal at a Halloween party at his estate. Rather than debase herself with William's awful uncles, Bess flees William's home and drives straight into da...

This episode we continue Monster Smash October with Deceived by the Gargoyles by Lillian Lark! Grace is ready to settle down but has had difficulty finding the right person for her. She decides to go to a matchmaker to help her find a match. She gets more than expected when she's matched with Elliot, a gargoyle who already has two mates. Luckily, these mates are also sexy gargoyles and the thr...

It's Monster Smash October! This week, we're discussing A Soul to Touch by Opal Reyne. Once a skilled Demonslayer, Mayumi has exiled herself to her family's cabin in the woods, where she continues to bait and hunt demons. One of her hunting ventures brings her face to face with the duskwalker, Faunus, a cat-skulled demon that saved her life as a child. After being wounded by the Demon...

Join us this episode where we discuss Matt Dinniman's lit RPG book - Dungeon Crawler Carl! Carl's act of kindness in rescuing his ex-girlfriend's cat, Donut, saves him from being killed in the apocalypse. Now he must compete in a dungeon crawler event, hosted by the very same aliens who are harvesting Earth. Carl and Donut must navigate their way through the dungeon and find the stairs...

This week we're discussing The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk, book 4 in the Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent. Asar will do anything to be reunited with his love Mische, even if it means allying with a goddess and embarking on a path that will lead him and his through many dangerous lands. While love drives them to obtain redemption and seek the power of a god, will it be enough to sa...

This week we discuss Phantasma by Kaylie Smith! Ophelia Grimm has been training to be a necromancer her entire life but when her mom dies suddenly and the magic transfers to her, secrets start to emerge. Her sister, Genevieve, runs off to compete in Phantasma. A dangerous competition filled with people's greatest fears. The winner gets any wish of their choice. Ophelia follows Genevieve to Pha...

For Odessa Cross, being a princess is not as glamorous as you'd think it might be. After being forced into an arranged marriage, and traveling to a new, dangerous land with frightening monsters, including the dashing Guardian, Odessa grapples with continuing to live according to her father's wishes, or making her own path in a new world. Her journey into the unknown is fraught with danger...

This week we discuss Bewitching Rhaego by Victoria Aveline! Rhaego is working with dissidents to rescue human women that have been illegally traded by the Queen of Clecania. When he takes a mission to go back to his come country of Tuva, he promises to find and rescue his friend's mate. However, plans change when Rhaego becomes bewitched by one of the other human women, Aurora. Her scent calls...

Join us this week for The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas. As a jade semidios, Teo planned to spend the Sunbearer trials with his best friend Niya, touring new towns and having fun. The last thing expected was to be selected by Sol as a competitor, but Sol deemed Teo and 9 other semidioses worthy of entering the trials that will keep away the Obsidian gods for another decade. For the first time i...

It's Pride Month! This week we're discussing The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon. After Wyatt accidently uses his witch powers to burn down part of the fae kingdom, he fled to the human world. However, when Emyr, the future king shows up, he demands that Wyatt return and fulfill their marriage contract. Wyatt wants no part of the fae world but he is bound by the blood contract. He is determined...

This week we're discussing The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang. Rin, a war orphan from the southern region of Nikara, is determined to get out of Tikany and the marriage her aunt has arranged for her. She scores astonishingly high on a national test and is accepted at Sinegard, a highly respected military academy in the north. At school she excels, despite the doubts of many, and her path leads her to...